Chess in Schools and Communities is delighted to announce today a novel way for any chess player, of any rating, to have their dream come true and compete alongside the World’s Elite and the Best of British at the 5th London Chess Classic, running from Saturday 7th December to Sunday 15th December 2013.

This year the LCC FIDE Open will qualify the two highest-scoring players after four rounds into the ‘Super Sixteen’ Rapidplay that features an all-star cast headed by World Champion Viswanathan Anand and the former champion Vladimir Kramnik.

If more than two players are tied at the end of round four, the spots will be decided on a rating tie-break (the two players with the highest rating going forward). Anyone transferred will not lose out financially, as the lowest prize in the Super Sixteen is greater than the top prize in the FIDE Open.

This means there are now 15 spots accounted for in the Super Sixteen. And we are also announcing today that the final slot will be decided by a ‘Wild card’ selection to be announced by the organisers of the London Chess Classic in late November 2013.

The London Chess Classic FIDE Open is fast becoming one of the must-play Swiss Events on the international calendar – and this year, it will have a bumper prize-fund of over £10,000 (!), as well as the guaranteed participation of a minimum of 12 Grandmasters.

The 5th London Chess Classic will again be the largest Chess Festival held in the UK. Apart from the headlining Super Sixteen and the FIDE Open, there will also be a smorgasbord of side events catering for players of all ages and all ratings: a FIDE Weekday Tournament, 2 Weekend Tournaments, 4 Rapidplay Tournaments, 4 Blitz Tournaments and 3 Grandmaster Simultaneous Displays from past British Champions Julian Hodgson, John Nunn and Jon Speelman.

It promises to be the best chess you’ll play or see all year! The 5th London Chess Classic will run from Saturday 7th December to Sunday 15th December at the Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington. For more information and to enter online: www.londonclassic.com. For ticket and tournament related queries, call our hotline now: 020 7486 7015.